Teach SFCM: The Conservatory's On-Ramp to a Private Teaching Studio
Students are encouraged to maintain the roster of students they develop through Teach SFCM after graduation, a rarity for most conservatories.
Elmer Carter III.
Dedicated to educating well-rounded musicians, SFCM offers a wide range of classes and programs through its Professional Development and Engagement Center (PDEC) and Professional Development (PDV) courses. One such program is Teach SFCM, through which students can begin recruiting, teaching—and most importantly, retaining—a professional teaching studio.
"We are committed to helping SFCM students build a financial runway for themselves in their careers even prior to graduation," Assistant Dean and Professional Development Chair Kristen Klehr says. "If the relationship between the private lessons student and the SFCM student teacher goes well, unlike some institutions, we do not require them to return the student to the program after they graduate."
Teach SFCM differs from the Conservatory's Pre-College in that it offers an opportunity for conservatory-grade private instruction without the more intensive structure and time commitments associated with the Pre-College program. For example, students early in their musical journey via an elementary, middle, or high school band can sign up for blocks of lessons to help them excel in those settings and decide if a more dedicated pursuit of music is in their future.
Riley Fichtenmayer.
Teach SFCM, administered by PDEC Coordinator Elmer Carter III (an SFCM cello alum and Denis de Coteau fellow), is built around PDV coursework like Building a Private Teaching Studio (PDV 208) and Training the Musical Brain (PDV 310). Bachelor's students at SFCM can also earn a minor in Teaching, one of four optional minors the Conservatory offers (along with Business, Technology, and Historical Performance).
Students go into their teaching careers not only with this academic background, but with ready access to their own private teachers. "Teach SFCM is a great way for current students to begin their teaching journeys while still receiving pedagogical advice and support from SFCM faculty," Carter says. "There are all kinds of questions and scenarios that come up as a new teacher, and it's helpful to be able to defer to an experienced teacher who can help guide young teachers in an ever-changing field."
2025 violin graduate Riley Fichtenmayer has been teaching at San Francisco's Lycée Français San Francisco (LFSF) through Teach SFCM for over a year. "Teaching at the Lycee has been a wonderful experience with the staff, parents, and students," she says.
Learn more about Teach SFCM here, or scan the QR code below.
